Elective C Section - timings?

[cub11]

Hi ladies,

After a very traumatic c section (transverse lying but waters broke early and baby's heart stopped resulting in a general anesthetic c section) last time, I'm electing for a c section again this time round. I'm currently 25 weeks.

I'm super anxious about the prospect of my waters breaking again before making it to the operating table and I was just wondering at what point other mumas had their elective c sections when it wasn't for 'medical' reasons?

Surely they don't leave you until 40 weeks and hope you don't go in to labour before then?!

I'll be asking my midwife when I next see her, but hoping to get some real life examples align my expectations before then.

Thanks in advanced

I’ve been told most planned C Sections are around 39 weeks, because they want the baby to be as “full term” as possible.

I’ve been recommended a section at 37 weeks for medical reasons but there is a lot of caution around it being that early, and I’ve literally just left an appointment where the consultant said it’d be unlikely to be that early as they’d prefer it to be closer to 39 weeks, but I don’t know if that’s the case everywhere.

If labour starts, you’ll go in straight away and they’ll do your c section earlier, I believe - or that’s what I’ve been told to expect! But it seems a natural birth isn’t an option for me; so I don’t know if that plays a part.

It's normal to have it at 39+0

Mine was at 39+4 because 39 weeks was
Xmas day and theatre was booked

If you go into labour before your elective you run to hospital for an emergency

Worth chatting to your obs if you have a more
Complicated history

I've just had an elective at 39+4 (had an emergency one with my first child 4 years ago). The consultant asked me what I wanted to do if I went into labour before my section date and I said that I'd still like a section; she confirmed that this would be absolutely fine and it was documented in my notes.

Depending on your Trust, they may not confirm the exact date until quite late... mine was confirmed at 34 weeks but the consultant had given me an indication of the likely date at a previous appointment which was helpful.

Hope it all goes well for you!

I was offered at 39 weeks.
I wanted to make sure that if I did end up having to have one it would be in labour to benefit baby so I declined.

I think 39 weeks is standard. My first was 38+6 because 39 would have been a Saturday and my second was 39+0.

39 weeks is standard.

I had a similar experience with my first and #2 was scheduled for ELCS at 39+5.

Thank you all for your replies.. whilst I absolutely want baby to be as ready for the world as possible, I have so much anxiety about my waters breaking early.

My little boy came two weeks early and if we hadn't been in hospital at the time and able to be rushed in to surgery, he simply wouldn't have made it.

I'm terrified! I just want this baby to be here and safe already

Mine is non-medical reasons and it’s booked for 39+4. I think it would have been earlier in the 39th week but it’s the weekend and they don’t do planned ones on a Friday at my hospital